IRISH CUP: Old friend is Tuff to beat says Burns

If there’s a first goal-scorer market for the big final, Aaron Burns mustn’t be far off top spot.

The midfielder has bagged 27 goals in 43 appearances this season. That takes his Linfield totals to 71 in 209 games.

His hat-trick in the semi-final saw off Lurgan Celtic. So can he cause double Lurgan heartache with another display of heroics this weekend? He knows his old mate in the Glenavon goal won’t let that happen easily.

“You have to have a good strike on you to get the goal because Tuffs is tough to get past,” he said. “It’s going to have to be a good one to beat him.

“There’s a good buzz about the squad and a confidence. We’ve done well this season and have competed on a few fronts. We’ve toned things down in training last week but things will pick up again building up to Saturday.”

The Linfield squad have every reason to be feeling all but unbeatable at the minute. Since the turn of the year, they’ve won 17 of 21 games, losing just three and drawing once.

But former Banbridge Town Juniors man Burns knows Saturday’s match will be a different kettle of fish.

He said: “The Cup final is a great day as a whole. From that morning when you wake up, there’s a great excitement and a buzz everywhere. It’s different to any other day. There are maybe three or four times as many fans at the match and there’s a great noise in the stadium. It’s the game that every player in the league really wants to play in.”

Since picking up a league and cup double in 2012, Linfield have won just one County Antrim Shield. Burns knows that is slim pickings for a club used to victory. And he says his boys are out to end the run in style.

“It’s been a bit of a wait,” he conceded. “The fans have been very patient so fingers crossed we can bring it home for them on Saturday.

“To do that, we’ll have to overcome tough opposition in Glenavon but we have full confidence that we can get the win.

“I haven’t started in an Irish Cup final before so fingers crossed, I’m hoping to do that next weekend. Failing that, I’ll come on and hopefully make an impact but I’m working hard to push for a start.”

Burns has only got the better of Tuffey once this season, that goal from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw earlier this year. He says practice on spot-kicks will be plentiful this week, although he wasn’t giving away any secrets with Tuffey listening in. So what about a Burns winner?